Hava Nedaber Ivrit: Rosh Hashanah Abounds With Customs
By NIRA LEV
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Each month in this space,
L'Chayim will present a Hebrew
lesson entitled, "Hava Nedaber
Ivrit!" (Let's Speak Hebrew), whose
aim is to encourage further study of
Hebrew. The lesson will include a
brief story utilizing the Hebrew
words to be studied, a vocabulary
list with English translations and a
family activitiy which involves using
the new words. The lessons will be
prepared by Nira Lev, associate
professor of Hebrew language and
literature at the Midrasha College of
Jewish Studies. Mrs. Lev also
teaches Hebrew language and
literature at the Community Jewish
High School at the United Hebrew
Schools.
Following is this month's
lesson:
Rosh Hashanah has no
resemblance to the non-Jewish New
Year as it is celebrated all over the
world.
Rosh Hashanah, meaning the
head of the year, is the first chag in
our luach, luach ha'shanah
ha'eevri. This chag occurs on the
first two yamim of chodesh
Tishrey, the first chodesh of
ha'shanah ha'eevrit.
The origin of the shem
Tishrey is Babylonian, and it is an
abbreviation of the word tishrittum,
which means raishit, hatchala.
According to our masoret, it was on
Rosh Hashanah that our olam was
created. Rosh Hashanah then, is
yom ha'hooledet shel ha'olam.
This chag, however, is not
chag shel simcha, chagigot and
meseebot. Rather, it is zman for
cheshbon-nefesh, for serious,
solemn machshava and chazara
bi'tshuva. Everyone is given the
opportunity for hatchala chadasha,
for growth and change that result
from looking into ourselves and
trying to become adam yoter tov.
Rosh Hashanah abounds with
special minhagim that are all
symbolic and have their reason.
One of these minhagim is Tashlich.
On the first day of Rosh Hashanah,
acharey hatzohorayim, the minhag
is to go to the nearest nachal or
nahar and empty one's kissim into
the mayim. This symbolizes, of
course, getting rid of one's
chata'eem and opening daf
chadash in one's life.
Another minhag is to dip a
piece of challa or of a tapuach in
d'vash, eat it and say, "Shanah
Tovah Um'tukah." The challot for
the chag are made in the shape of
sulamot because on Rosh
Hashanah a person's place is
determined — some will go down
and some will go up.
A traditional food on this chag
are dagim. When eating the dagim
we say: "Yehee ratzon she'nifreh
ve'nirbeh ka'dagim."
People are careful not to eat
ochel chamutz, and some do not
take a nap in the afternoon of the
chag in order not to be atzelim in
the new year.
Last, but not least, is the
minhag of sending karteesay
bracha to kroveem and chaverim
to wish them: "Shanah Tovah,"
and "Le'shanah tovah tikatevu
ve'techatemu."
Meelon (Vocabulary)
masoret
tradition
olam
world
yom-hooledet
birthday
yom ha'hooledet
shel ha-olam ....The birthday of
the world
chag shel simcha ...a holiday of joy
chagigot
celebrations
meseebot
parties
cheshbon-nefesh ....soul searching
machshava
thought
chazara bi'tshuva
repentance
adam yoter tov
a better person
minhagim
customs
"Tashlich"
throw out!
acharey hatzohorayim
in the
afternoon
minhag
a custom
nachal
a brook, a spring
nahar
a river
kissim
pockets
mayim
water
chata' eem
sins
daf chadash
a new page
challah
a hallah
tapuach
an apple
d'vash
honey
matok
sweet
m'tookah
sweet (fern)
Shana Tovah
Um'tukah
A good sweet year
sulamot
ladders
dagim
fish (plural)
Yehee ratzon
she'nifreh ve'nirbeh
ka'dagim
may we multiply
and increase
like fish
ochel
food
chamutz
sour
atzelim
lazy (plural)
karteesay bracha .
greeting cards
krovim
relatives
chaverim
friends
Le'Shana Tova
Tikatevu Ve'
techatemu
may you be
inscribed and sealed
for a good year
Next Issue
Sukkot, Simchat Torah and
much, much more. That's what
you'll find in next month's
L'Chayim. Stories, puzzles,
Hebrew and Yiddish lessons
and the latest in Jewish books,
toys and games. Not to mention
pen pals, recipes, geneaology
and the origins of family names.
Coming to you soon!
Holiday Puzzle
Answers
luach
calender
luach ha'shanah
ha'eevri ....The Hebrew calender
chag
holiday
yamim
days
chodesh
month
ha'shanah
ha'eevrit
The Hebrew year
shem
name
raishit, hatchala
beginning
y
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In Ann Arbor
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Apples & Honey & Lots, Lots More will
be held this Sunday from 1-4 p.m. at the
Jewish Community Center of Washtenaw
County.
Sponsored by the Jewish organizations
in the county, Apples & Honey will bring
together people of all ages and backgrounds
to have fun and to learn more about the
Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom
Kippur.
Organizations participating are: Beth
Israel Congregation, Temple Beth Emeth,
Chabad House, Hebrew Day School, Jewish
Cultural Society, Hadassah, Israeli Student
Organization and the Hillel Foundation.
For information, call 971-0990.
UIk
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v otc,,,c&;(6 Holiday Festival
Sunday, Sept. 24
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Elaine Serling, Songster, will perform
Sunday at 2 p.m. at Jaffe Hall, Jewish
Community Center, JPM Building, 15110 W.
10 Mile Road, Oak Park, Mich. There is a
charge.
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Friday, Oct. 13
A sukkot family service will be held Oct.
13 at Birmingham Temple. Temple school
students will celebrate with songs, dramatic
presentations, parades, and a harvest tribute.
For information, contact Helen Forman or
Beverly Roland at 477-1410.
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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